Growing Dolichos in Lamu
Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile
Generally not ideal — Lamu is poorly suited to Dolichos. Lamu's soil (pH 6.31, slightly acidic) gives Dolichos a suitability score of 0/100. Match fertilizer to Lamu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Lamu County is a challenging environment for Dolichos (soil-match score 0/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.31 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7.5 band Dolichos prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.74 g/kg), phosphorus (9.6 mg/kg) and potassium (117 mg/kg) all meet Dolichos's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Dolichos, which favours sandy loam. At 10 m, the county sits below Dolichos's preferred altitude range (1000–2100 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Dolichos is the #83 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Lamu County. Dolichos's full potential is about 600 kg/acre (~KES 72,000/acre at KES 120/kg), but at Lamu's 0/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 0 kg/acre (~KES 0/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Better matched to Lamu's soil: Sesame (Simsim), Sorghum, and Cowpeas — each scores higher on the same soil.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Lamu soil | Dolichos needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.31 | 5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.74 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 9.6 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 117 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 400–1,000 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 10 m | 1,000–2,100 m | Low |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Short Rains
Dry Season
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag